Baby Toka's Not Eating - Possible RI?

[jaylbird]

Hello everyone on BTS.org.
Well, I thought we were "out of the woods", but I'm not so sure now. My baby Merauke was born on July 15, from one of Ophidiophile's clutch.
He was delivered 9/23/14 but the overnight trip had temps that fell in the high 40s. Toka was sent with a heat pillow and was chilly but ok.
Baby Toka was not eating until last week. Instead of the reported 2 tsp per meal, every other day, he's maybe only eaten 2 or 3tsp since he's been home.
He's really not drinking either. He's hiding a lot and I'm not positive if there's a possible issue with a respiratory infection, or when his last shed was.

So far, the signs are pointing to an RI. I think the sneezing is too frequent and he's holding his head up all the time. The right eye is almost always closed and it seems to be watering. Breathing is beginning to look a little labored (throat is extending under his mouth) at times, and I noticed him rubbing his right eye on the glass. It also appears that the right third eyelid is closed often as well. He is buried most of the time and needs coaxing to do anything at this point.

What does this sound like to you all?

I have attached a pic, so you can see the right eye for yourself. I have also attached a pic that shows his tank setup. Right now, he's got a repti-sun 5.0 tube and a zoo med 150w basking bulb. The lights are on separate timers, with the heat lamp on for 10 hours, and the uvb bulb for 12, with daylight currently at 7:30am to 7:30pm. This is all over coco husk substrate with temps and humidity at:

Day
100F(basking), 80F(low side) and 50% humidity when the heat lamp is on.

Night
76F and 70% humidity

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[DianaBlueTongue]

David is a very highly respected member of the community, have you mentioned this to him before posting here about it? I'm sure if theres any problem with a bluey he sold he would be more then willing to rectify the situation. Sometimes blueys take a little time to settle in to a new environment, how long has the eye been seeming to bother him and how long have you had it?

[jaylbird]

Yes I did PM him, but I understand that not everyone can watch their email all weekend and I was hoping for some insight as quickly as possible.

I was not trying to slander David in any way. I just wanted to divulge as much info as possible. He is considered a quality breeder and I agree. I don't want anyone to think I bought Toka from a fly-by-night shop or wild-caught entrepreneur. I am only looking for help on a broader scale, in case he was unavailable to reply. I am not upset at him for anything at this point and I don't want to either wait too long or jump the gun on going to a vet.

I want our investment to be a great choice and a healthy addition to our family. I am planning to see a local exotic vet tomorrow in any event and I'm sorry if I came across wrong in my original post.

[Fatal_S]

It does sound like a RI to me, especially with the moist eyes. I'm glad you're going to see the vet. Hope it all clears up quickly for you.

[Ophidiophile]

We've now been in touch. It does sound like an RI and needs to be treated.
By the way, this is one of two Bill Schwinn (RIP) babies that I sold. I still have 3 of them.
This is Toka the Friday before he was sent out. He's a really attractive Merauke - I REALLY hope he recovers!

[Susann]

Glad you're seeing a vet ASAP and I hope Toka is on the road to recovery very soon.
Possibly an RI, but the other thing that strikes me is that there doesn't seem to be many places to hide from the UVB. Something you could fairly inexpensively do is to buy some of that silk plant garland from a craft store and lay down in the tank. That way he can spend some time out of a hide without being fully exposed to the light and rays, and this way he would also be better able to thermo regulate in that he'd be able to find a place in the right temperature without feeling totally exposed without anything to hide in.
Other than the eye he looks to be in good condition though.
Please let us know what the vet says and how things are working out.

[jaylbird]

Toka and I went to the vet this afternoon. It was Allentown Animal Clinic, where they treat exotics and everyday pets.
I am concerned that the rates might have been high, but whatever.

They said Toka has definitely got an RI. I decided against the over-priced x-ray as it wouldn't tell us anything we don't already know.
I was given the following medications, to be administered every 12 hours:

1. Ciprofloxacin drops (1 drop/eye and nostril)
2. Baytril antibiotic (0.1cc)
3. Nebulizer brew (with Baytril) for 15 minutes

The doctor's prognosis is favorable, as Toka was not as bad as they have seen and he felt I was more informed than most exotic owners.
My knowledge of habitat and husbandry impressed him and I made a point of name-dropping the BTS site as the main reason!

Toka was taking fluid from them and he ate for me tonight. It was about a 1/4 tsp of chicken pate, which the vet said was really all to be expected in the current state of the RI. Baby food sweet potato was recommended "when all other food fails". He also hinted that the low temp during shipment is most likely to blame. (No fault of David's either!) I should have listened to the "nagging" whisper in my head. We should have waited two more days, when the overnight temps were higher. Ah well, live and learn.

I will keep the board updated, as we go along. I am feeling better for Toka, now that we know where we stand.

[DianaBlueTongue]

That's great news! Im very happy little Toka is on the mend.

I know that vet clinic! I don't live too far from there actually, well, about an hour. They are very good for reptile vet needs, glad to hear you were able to find a good vet.

Keep us updated on his progress!

[donkeybuff]

RIs usually respond well to treatment when you catch them early. Great news for both you and Toka!

[Ophidiophile]

Glad to hear the prognosis is good!

[jaylbird]

Hello BTS readers.
It's been 6 days since our trip to the vet. I can report with much relief that Toka's eating somewhat. He's about a 1/2 teaspoon a day of food. It's been either honeydew or chicken pate dog food. The meds are working and the sneezing is down. He's breathing more regularly and he's crawling around, exploring when we take him out of his tank, with his head level with the rest of his body. I see these as good signs to recovery from the RI.

The only concern we have at this point is the third eyelid on his right eye. It looks as bad, or maybe worse, since starting him on the ciprofloxacin drops. I am wondering if that, or the Baytril nebulizer mist, might be aggravating it. Any ideas, that is if anyone has been prescribed this treatment?

Thank you all for your advice and knowledge, Autumn and I greatly appreciate it and I'm sure Toka is thankful as well.

[jaylbird]

Hello everyone!
Toka is doing well after his follow-up meeting at the vet. On his first visit, Oct. 6, he was 65g and not eating much at all. At his follow-up on Oct. 20, after two weeks of meds, he was eating more frequently and his weight was up to 75g. We also got antibiotic ointment for the enflamed third eyelid. It's been two weeks since his last visit and I can say that his RI is gone, the eyelid is nearly all healed and his weight is up to a whopping 127g and 12.5 inches long!

I am not sure, but perhaps someone can comment on his weight to length ratio? He's eating about 1 Tbs every other day and it does look like he has gotten longer. To give you an idea of his size, the below pics start off with a similar shot to the one in the above post, from the breeder, before our Sep. 23 arrival date. Also, the last two weeks, he been eating about 75% meat and we were ok with it since he seemed so thin to us. Now that he has bulked up a bit, we have gotten him back on a 50/50 mix of liver pate (cat food) and a three-way blend of our own cooking and pureeing of red pepper, sweet potato and butternut squash. The mix is seasoned with calcium supplement, basil, parsley, a pinch of both salt and pepper and lightly sautéed in olive oil.

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[Fatal_S]

Toka is looking fantastic! He's very lucky to have you to look after him

It's normal for babies to grow lengthwise at first. They don't really start to bulk up until they've reached full length (that's when you need to watch that they don't get too fat). Toka looks absolutely fantastic in those pictures A stunning merauke.

[jaylbird]

Thanks Mel, your words mean a lot. Being a breeder, I expect you've witnessed all manner of weight issues.
Just a side question I have, what is your experience with adult Merauke's average length?

[Fatal_S]

I have several meraukes, but I don't bother measuring length of my skinks unless asked to. Right now I have a runty probable-male, two normal-sized gender-unknowns, and my big girl who's away on breeding loan is my longest skink. If you want adult lengths maybe PM Susann or Valley Reptiles? Or ask Ophidiophile what the parent's lengths are?

[Ophidiophile]

He looks gorgeous and is actually slightly longer and heavier than the 3 litter-mates of his that I kept. His proportionality (weight for length) seems right on target to me as well. So glad he's being so well cared for - makes me really happy that he went to you!

[Susann]

My adult Meraukes range in length from 23" to 28".
To me, Toka looks perfectly proportioned for a young Merauke --I've had several that were quite a bit thinner into young adulthood.